When it comes to setting goals or starting new healthy habits, many people like to wait for a certain period to begin anew. That could be a pledge to start on Monday, after they finish exams, or even waiting until the New Year to make it a resolution.

Why not try to start those healthy habits immediately?

Wanting to make a change immediately or going at something head-on could have its benefits. It delays any excuses or reasons to give in. It makes you a more determined individual who’s ready to face any challenges that come there way.

Starting a new habit or life change can be difficult, which is why we chose a few that are much more doable than “start training for a marathon”. 

Drink More Water

Water is an essential part of your overall health and provides countless benefits with constant, regular use.  Drinking water can improve your digestion, boost your metabolism, increase skin health, oral health, help you sleep, and so much more. 

It’s not exactly the most exciting drink in the world, but the healthiest items usually aren’t.

A great place to start is by drinking a cup of water first thing in the morning. It’s going to help you jumpstart your metabolism while also helping you wake up. Water provides precious energy to your brain. Combining it with an apple is a healthier version than coffee leading to great healthy habits.

Set a Sleep Schedule

Back in college, it seemed you could go to sleep whenever and wake up whenever and feel pretty refreshed. Had to stay up all night to cram for an exam? You’ve still got enough energy for that party tonight! Stayed up playing video games with your roommates? That won’t slow you down from pickup basketball tomorrow.

While it was possible to get away with that in college from time to time, the older you get the more important a solid sleep schedule is. You should make sure you’re sticking to that sleep schedule at all times, even on the weekends.

That way, your body will know when it’s time to shut down and can go through the natural sleep cycle. Sticking to a sleep schedule is a way to make sure you’re more refreshed and energetic throughout your life.

Move Around

If you’re someone who’s not an exercise fanatic, making the change to start exercising on a regular basis is no small feat but a great healthy habit. For those that have tried or are currently trying, it can be tough to make yourself head to the gym and start something completely new to you.

We’re not here to tell you that you should be running 10 miles a day and aiming to look like the Hulk. 

With so much of our lives sedentary, either for work or driving around all the time, there isn’t a lot of movement in our day to day lives.

Make sure you’re taking frequent breaks at work to walk around a bit. Instead of going to the bathroom down the hall, go to the one at the opposite end of the building for a little extra stretching.

Try to get at least 30 minutes of cardio a day, whether it’s walking your dog in the park or simply taking a stroll in your neighborhood.

Meal Plan

This might be the most difficult of all the habits here, but it is completely doable. Set aside a time at the beginning of the week to plan your meals. 

Meal planning should be part of your healthy habits for two reasons: one, it will help you avoid the temptation of buying unhealthy foods. If it’s not on your meal plan, then you shouldn’t be purchasing it.

Two, it makes grocery shopping much easier. You know the ingredients and items you have to buy for your meals. If you’re not sure where to start, there are plenty of recipe options available online. 

Work on Your Posture

Posture is one of those tricky habits that is usually on everyone’s mind, but after thinking about it for a few minutes it then tends to be forgotten.

Take the time every day to work on your posture and make sure you’re sitting and standing up straight. Ignoring it can lead to back pain or a whole host of other problems down the road.

It’s going to be uncomfortable at first, especially if you’re used to slouching but making a conscious effort is a way to improve your posture and back health.